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Intrigue in the desert! For a time, it appeared as though the Diamondbacks wouldn't retain on Saturday night -- closer Heath Bell surrendered a home run for the fifth straight game -- but in the waning moments the Snakes stunned the visiting Reds and kept the Eye On Baseball Heavyweight Championship.
Wait, the "Eye On Baseball Heavyweight Championship?" What's that? That's this ...
Since the concept of championship belts is cool in boxing, MMA and sports entertainment (aka pro wrestling), the Eye on Baseball team has decided to create a Heavyweight Championship belt for the 2013 season.
As the defending World Series champions, the Giants entered the season with the strap. From there, here are our rules.
1. A team must win a series from the champion to take the belt. One game isn't going to cut it, considering it's a 162-game season and teams all view the season in terms of series.
2. If the belt-holder splits a series (two- or four-game series), it retains. Much like on a draw in boxing or a count-out situation in pro wrestling, you don't get the belt unless you actually beat the champion. A tie isn't good enough.
3. If, at the end of the regular season, the belt-holder does not make the playoffs -- and due to the dynamics of this thing, that scenario is entirely plausible -- said team will be stripped of the title for not qualifying for the postseason. Then the winner of the playoffs -- the World Series -- takes the belt and the title into the offseason.
So how did Arizona pull it off? They managed to cuff around elite Cincy closer Aroldis Chapman after Bell had his thoroughly predictable meltdown. In other words, they hit the Reds with a secret trash-can lid! Check out these official game highlights ...
Excellent play!
Now that the Diamondbacks have secured both belt and title through the weekend, they'll turn their attentions to the their next challengers, the Nationals.
Until then, our updated Gallery of Champions ...
